Concord's Reign: Brief, Not Least

Firewalk Studios' Concord, a 5v5 hero shooter, met an abrupt end just two weeks after its release. The game's servers are now offline, a consequence of failing to meet player expectations.

A Quiet Launch, A Quick Closure

Game Director Ryan Ellis announced the shutdown on September 3rd, 2024, via the PlayStation Blog. While acknowledging some positive player feedback, Ellis stated the game's overall performance and launch fell short of goals. Digital purchases on Steam, Epic Games Store, and PlayStation Store will receive automatic refunds; physical copies require contacting the retailer for returns.

The game's demise is a setback for both Firewalk Studios and Sony, who had high hopes for Concord. The studio acquisition reflected Sony's confidence in Firewalk's potential, and ambitious plans included a first season launch in October and weekly cutscenes, even a planned segment in the Prime Video series, Secret Level. However, poor performance drastically altered these plans, resulting in only three cutscenes being released.

Why Did Concord Fail?

Concord's struggles began early. Despite eight years of development, player interest remained low, peaking at a mere 697 concurrent players. Analyst Daniel Ahmad highlighted a lack of innovation and uninspired character designs, failing to distinguish itself from established competitors. The $40 price tag also placed it at a disadvantage against free-to-play rivals like Marvel Rivals, Apex Legends, and Valorant, compounded by minimal marketing.

Ellis hinted at Firewalk exploring future options to better connect with players, leaving the door open for a potential revival. The success story of Gigantic, a MOBA hero shooter that transitioned from a failed live-service model to a successful buy-to-play format, offers a glimmer of hope. However, simply making Concord free-to-play may not solve fundamental issues like bland character design and gameplay. A complete overhaul, akin to the successful resurrection of Final Fantasy XIV, might be necessary.

Game8's review (56/100) described Concord as "visually appealing, yet lifeless," highlighting the unfortunate outcome of eight years of development. For a detailed review, see the link below.